Record Details
Vertical Axis Pendulum Wave Energy Converters : Investigating Control Strategies and the Deployment of a Scaled Generic Prototype
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Vertical Axis Pendulum Wave Energy Converters : Investigating Control Strategies and the Deployment of a Scaled Generic Prototype |
| Names |
Boren, Blake C.
(creator) Batten, Belinda (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2015-06-04 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 2015 |
| Abstract | Vertical Axis Pendulum Wave Energy Converters (VAPWECs) are thought to be both effective and robust at converting ocean wave energy into usable electricity. Seeking to build upon and investigate such potential, this work examines the merits of actively controlling a generic VAPWEC's pendulum for the purpose of increasing the converter's net power output. To this end, an active controller was developed using Model Predictive Control methods and subsequently evaluated through hydrodynamic modeling techniques. With the active controller engaged, results from the simulations indicate the possibility of increasing a VAPWEC's net power output by over 200 percent. Transitioning from computer simulations to a real-world deployment, a scaled generic VAPWEC prototype was designed, built, and then tested at O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. The deployment was an empirical study that explored the relationships between irregular wave environments, various pendulum control torques, and net power outputs from the converter. Outcomes from the laboratory tests provide a stronger foundation than what was previously available for the continued advancement and investigation of Vertical Axis Pendulum Wave Energy Converters. |
| Genre | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Access Condition | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ |
| Topic | Marine Renewable Energy |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/56221 |
